Program Development Awards
To apply for Maryland Sea Grant Program Development Awards please read the information below and then complete the form at the bottom of this web page.
About Program Development Funding
The Maryland Sea Grant program (MDSG) focuses on supporting translational watershed, coastal and marine science that can inform broad audiences in the Chesapeake Bay region and Maryland's coastal areas. Maryland Sea Grant College has the ability to support small, targeted grants that come under the general category of program development awards. These awards are given by the Maryland Sea Grant College to help support important start-up efforts, or to offer strategic support to emerging areas of importance. Program development funds are designed to stimulate and foster small-scale innovative projects that will eventually lead to submissions for larger grants from a variety of sources. Also, these funds may be used to support workshops and educational opportunities that connect marine and coastal science to diverse audiences.
To be successful in receiving program development funding all proposal requests must be consistent with the Maryland Sea Grant Strategic Plan 2010 — 2013 and demonstrate a clear link between coastal and marine science and conservation and restoration efforts in Maryland. Demonstrating an outreach component or illuminating how the proposal is relevant to audiences beyond academia is an important consideration. These program development funds are highly limited and judiciously distributed. We have many more requests for funding than we can support.
Submitting a Program Development Proposal
Program development awards are typically less than $10,000. These funds come to us from several sources including our Omnibus award (NOAA) as well as our State allocation. Given the programmatic goals for funding these awards, it is Maryland Sea Grant College's policy that program development awards may not be charged any indirect costs. In addition, Maryland Sea Grant does not require matching funds be contributed.
Proposals for program development awards are short requests, submitted using the form below. A PDF of your proposal may be uploaded in lieu of completing the "Summary" box. If you are considering submitting a program development awards, you are strongly encouraged to directly contact the Maryland Sea Grant Director. For more information, contact the Office of the Director, Maryland Sea Grant, 4321 Hartwick Road, Suite 300, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20740 (pd@mdsg.umd.edu) or call (301-405-7500) to make an appointment to discuss your research interests.
Approval Process and Reporting Requirements
All attempts are made to streamline the approval process so as to complete it within several weeks after a proposal is submitted. Please note, though that under some circumstances award decisions may take up to three months. The approval process involves an internal review and contact between the PI and the Maryland Sea Grant Director. Maryland Sea Grant will contact the award applicant regarding the funding decision. Before an approved proposal can be processed and awarded the Maryland Sea Grant business office will work with the submitting entity to ensure compliance with our office policies and procedures for awarding program development funds.
Program development awards are typically less than $10,000. These funds come to us from several sources including our Omnibus award (NOAA) as well as our State allocation. Given the programmatic goals for funding these awards, it is Maryland Sea Grant College's policy that program development awards may not be charged any indirect costs. In addition, Maryland Sea Grant does not require matching funds be contributed.
